Clemson vs. Georgia postgame notes

Clemson scored 21 points in the first half, tied for the most points in a first half against Georgia. The Tigers also scored 21 in the first half in 1986 and in 2013.

Clemson gained 276 yards of total offense in the first half. The Tigers averaged 253 yards of total offense per half last season.

Clemson ran 54 plays in the first half, the most plays the Tigers have run in a half against Georgia since 1980 when the Tigers ran 56 in the first half in the game in Athens. The Tigers ran 56 plays to just 10 for Georgia in the first half of that game, yet Georgia led 14-10 at intermission.

Clemson is now 45-7 under Dabo Swinney when leading or tied at the half.

Average starting field position for this game was the key stat. Georgia’s average start was its own 43 and Clemson’s average start was its own 19. This was just the second time in the last 17 years that Clemson had an average starting field position inside its own 20. It was the 10th time in the last 17 years that the opposition started at its own 40 or better.

The difference of 24 yards per possession was the second-most in the last 17 years and the most since the 2006 Wake Forest game, a game Clemson won. Wake Forest’s average start was midfield and Clemson’s was its own 21 for a 29-yard margin per possession in that game eight years ago.

This was the first season opening loss for Swinney as head coach.

This was Clemson’s fourth season opening loss since 2000. All four have been to top-25 SEC teams. The previous three teams to defeat Clemson in the opener have gone on to a combined record of 36-6 and all have finished in the top 10.

Individual Notes

Mackensie Alexander started in the secondary for the Tigers today in his first game as a redshirt freshman. He is the first freshman to start the first game of the season in the secondary since Alex Ardley in 1998. Ardley started all 11 games that season.

Mike Williams had a career-high 88 yards receiving in the first half. His previous best for a game was 70 yards receiving against The Citadel last year.

Both quarterbacks directed touchdown drives for Clemson in the first half. Cole Stoudt took the Tigers on a pair of scoring drives (70 and 68 yards) and freshman Deshaun Watson led the Tigers on a scoring drive (78) in the second quarter in his first career appearance.

Charone Peake had a 30-yard touchdown reception from Deshaun Watson in the first half. It was Peake’s first catch and first touchdown since last season’s second game against SC State. Peake played just two games last season due to a torn ACL.

When Deshaun Watson threw a touchdown pass in the second quarter he became the first Tiger freshman quarterback to throw a touchdown pass since Tajh Boyd threw two in the Belk Bowl against South Florida in 2010.

Vic Beasley was credited with a sack in the first half, giving him 22 for his career. He now has 22 sacks for his career and moved into sixth place in Clemson history and is tied with Brentson Buckner and Bryant McNeal. He needs seven to become Clemson’s career leader.

Clemson safety Robert Smith tied his career high in terms of tackles in tonight’s game with 10. In fact it is his second straight game with 10 tackles. He had 10 in Clemson’s win over Ohio State in the Orange Bowl to end last season. Smith also had a fumble recovery tonight.

Adam Humphries had five catches tonight and went over the 100 mark for his career. He enters the home opener against South Carolina State with 102.

Bradley Pinion had a career-high 10 punts tonight and averaged 45.1 yards per boot. He had two punts inside the 20 and no touchbacks. He now has 26 punts inside the 20 without a touchback over his last 14 games.

C.J. Davidson, who came to Clemson on a track & field scholarship, had 13-66 rushing tonight, his career high in total yardage, and had a touchdown. He averaged 5.1 yards per rush.